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22/03/2016

Remember those basil and cheese breads?

The eating of those breads in sunshine - what better way to spend a Sunday?

What a lovely day - the sun was warm (the breeze a little chilly!) and the views sublime. Having parked up we wrapped up warmly and set off up on to the moors, following rough grassy tracks through limestone ridges and tussocky pastures.

The terrain we walked through had many huge balancing rocks which were fascinating and strange 'beings'. Perched on smaller rock they appeared weightless and floating. They're not glacial erratics as they are the same rock as the surrounding terrain, however they must have been lifted by glacial action from further up the valley and deposited here as the ice melted. True erratics would have been of differing rock.

Ingleborough - still with slabs of snow on it's tops.

In the far distance is Marble Steps Pot - indicated by that very small triangular shaped woodland on the horizon - we were heading there.

As were approached, it felt odd. The clump of trees seemed to act as both marker and shield for what we where about to discover...

...Marble Steps Pot. A limestone cave system which goes down to a depth of over 400 feet below ground. Himself and the boys went down as far as the sunlight could reach then vanished from view.

Not me -*shudder* I do not do underground *double shudder*. I have marked where Himself is, and he continued down until he disappeared into the dark tunnels.

Fortunately all three re-emerged into the sunlight and I could breathe easily again. We left just as a group of potholers arrived, togged up in hard hats and roped together ready to explore the murky depths.

No - I'll stay in the sunshine thank you muchly!

The strangely dimpled black stones, worn by millennia into waves and hollows, influenced the name - Marble Steps Pot.

Up and over a tussocky and sheep covered dale and down into a valley where another pot hole was explored - what is it about boys and deep holes that make their mother's chew their finger nails to the bone!?

To keep my heart still and my hands busy. I concentrated on my knitting - which although a simple pattern needed me to count and think and not notice as the earth swallowed my children up without even thinking.

Another pot hole - required more inspection, more explorations.

The final gem, after walking for some miles, was this unassuming little shepherd's hut. Which, on closer inspection revealed a small red sandstone arch quietly sheltering within.

Toby's Fold - A movable (now static) art installation by the land artist Andy Goldsworthy celebrating sheep folds from Dumfries down to it's present site - it is an interesting read - follow this link HERE

When I sat down in the car and removed my boots, I felt both a sense of relief at the end of the walk and a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment from our day out. I was tired but it was a good tired!

Stunning scenery! I can't understand people going down pot holes - I have to look away at scenes on tv of people crawling through confined spaces! At least for you the sheep kept looking at you - usually for me they turn and show me their bottoms!!

What a lovely plact to walk. Thanks. I also don't do underground unless it's well lit and large. Ah, a circular needle! Wish you were closer as I've seen several patterns lately that use one and I've tried once (many years ago) and didn't have any success, so stick to 2 needles. Just watching the final of Great British Bakeoff. Have a great week and take care.

Interesting link about the Andy Goldsworthy arch. I agree, best stay above ground. Pot holes are definitely not my thing either. The 'marbles' picture is fascinating. Looks like it was a lovely walk.♥♥♥ xx

I am more like you, I do not like to go down on holes. I fear loose rocks too. Boys will be boys they say. The bread looks delicious! I checked the link and what an interesting history. Thank you for sharing !!

Is it a girl and boy thing? None of the above followers of your blog fancy going underground. I think we have more common sense and the boys just have more of a sense of adventure - or lack of fear and respect for danger as we do. ♥♥♥ xx

Oh good grief, your boys (large and small) are insane {{{smile}}}. Like you I do not go underground - just reading your words and looking at the pictures makes my stomach twist up. When I see TV programmes with people in potholes and the like I just cannot understand how they do it, I can't even go into the crawlspace under our floors!

Oh good grief, your boys (large and small) are insane {{{smile}}}. Like you I do not go underground - just reading your words and looking at the pictures makes my stomach twist up. When I see TV programmes with people in potholes and the like I just cannot understand how they do it, I can't even go into the crawlspace under our floors!

Lovely, lovely post though, and obviously a good family outing :-} (Sorry if this is a repeat, not sure if it went through first time)